NJ man qualifies for 'Jeopardy!' Tournament of Champions. How long could his streak last?
Scott Riccardi, an engineer from Somerville, claimed his fifth consecutive victory July 9 to qualify him for the Season 41 Tournament of Champions. The annual competition is generally reserved for contestants who earn at least five "Jeopardy!" wins, although the show may invite champions with fewer victories if there are not enough five-game winners.
The Tournament of Champions tracker shows Riccardi trails only four people — an eight-game champion and a trio of six-game winners — in the number of victories so far this season. However, his total winnings of $144,902 and counting are already the most of any contestant this year, more than $7,000 ahead of the runner-up.
Riccardi earned $12,500 in his most recent win, the lowest payout of his five-game run, after playing it safe for the Final Jeopardy clue to ensure he could not be caught. His $12,000 total after both "Jeopardy!" rounds was more than double the $5,400 accumulated by second-place Sarah Mulligan, resulting in a modest $500 wager for his last guess of the episode.
With his victory already assured, Riccardi was the only one of the three contestants to respond correctly in Final Jeopardy, in the category "Ancient Builders."
The clue: "A 2nd c. inscription in Northern England records that the gods imposed 'the necessity of keeping intact the empire' on this man." The answer: "Who is Hadrian?"
Riccardi will look to continue his "Jeopardy!" reign against two new challengers July 10. The dates of the next Tournament of Champions have not yet been announced.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Scott Riccardi of Somerville NJ wins fifth 'Jeopardy!' game
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